In the fire in a house on the Zuiderdiep in Valthermond, someone died last night. A second victim was slightly injured and arrested, the police say.
Around half past seven a fire broke out in the house. Soon the flames hit the house. “Possibly the fire was created by an explosion that preceded this,” the police said.
Several explosions in the home followed. As a result, the police and fire brigade could not go into the house for a long time. Local residents say they saw flares last night during the fire.
It is not yet known who the deceased victim is. The police are investigating this. A second victim was found nearby. It is a 35-year-old man from Emmen. He was injured, but was approachable. What his exact involvement has been in the fire is being investigated.
Today the investigation into the emergence of the fire and the explosions continues. The Explosives Clearance Service Defense (EOD) investigates in the home whether it is safe enough to enter for research.
A day after the fire, nobody is allowed to reach the house, but also at four adjacent houses. The street is fell with fences over a distance of about thirty meters and is being monitored. Possibly there would still be an explosion hazard.
There is all glass on the road, on the walls of the house where the fire raged are large black spots. There is a hole in the roof.
It is unknown when the local residents can go home.